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Health Officials Issue Revised Pregnancy Weight-Gain Guidelines For Obese Women
The Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council on Thursday issued revised U.S. weight-gain guidelines for obese pregnant women, in response to rising levels of obesity in the country and growing evidence that weight gain can cause health problems for women and their infants, the New York Times reports. The revision, which is the first since 1990, recommends that obese women -- those with a body mass index of 30 or more -- limit their weight gain to 11 to 20 pounds over nine months. The 1990 pregnancy guidelines did not specifically address weight gain for obese women, telling them instead to follow the recommendations for overweight women. According to health officials, the changes to the recommendations for obese women were required to keep up with the changing weight patterns among women in the U.S. The New York Times reports that about 27% of women of childbearing age are considered obese, while 55% fall into the categories of overweight or obese.The recommendations for women with BMIs of less than 30 did not change. They call for overweight women -- those with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 -- to gain 15 to 25 pounds over nine months, while underweight women -- with BMIs of less than 18.5 -- should gain 28 to 40 pounds, and normal-weight women -- with BMIs of 18.6 to 24.9 -- should gain 25 to 35 pounds (Parker-Pope, New York Times, 5/29).Time reports that pregnant women who do not gain enough weight face a higher risk of stunted fetal growth and preterm delivery. However, it is more common for women to gain too much weight, placing them at higher risk for conditions like gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. In addition, their infants are at increased risk of being born earlier, larger and by cesarean section. Time reports that excessive weight gain can increase a woman"s risk of postpartum obesity and elevate risks of heart disease and stroke because most women do not lose extra pounds gained during pregnancy. Many studies also have suggested that a woman"s gestational weight can predict potential weight problems in her offspring (Kingsbury, Time, 5/28).The committee that developed and issued the revision said that the existing guidelines were essentially on target but that women and their physicians need to work harder to help women reach a normal weight before pregnancy and avoid gaining too much weight during pregnancy, according to the Los Angeles Times (Roan, Los Angeles Times, 5/29). The guidelines also recommend more nutrition and exercise counseling during pregnancy, advising physicians or midwives to consult dieticians to shape a woman"s care regardless of her initial weight, the AP/Yahoo! News reports (Neergaard, AP/Yahoo! News, 5/28). The Los Angeles Times reports that health care professionals are expected to recognize and implement some of the recommendations; however, it is not mandatory to do so.Several experts on maternal obesity and child health expressed disappointment with the guidelines, arguing that obese women should gain little to no weight during pregnancy, according to the Los Angeles Times. They also argue the new guidelines do not do enough to address obesity before pregnancy. Maxine Hayes, state health officer for the Washington State Department of Health, said, "If we wait for every woman to be advised about weight gain after they become pregnant, it"s too late. It puts women and their babies on a trajectory that is unhealthy" (Los Angeles Times, 5/29).
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MS Society Responds To Debbie Purdy Ruling - Clarification On The Law Of Assisted Suicide, UK
The MS Society has responded to today"s Law Lords ruling concerning the case of Debbie Purdy, who has sought clarification on the law of assisted suicide.
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Historic Day For Health Care, Nurses And Midwives - ANF Welcomes Legislation To Increase Access To Quality Health Care
New legislation giving "eligible midwives" and nurse practitioners prescribing rights on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Medical benefits Schedule (MBS) will allow more Australians to access quality, affordable health care according to the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF).
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Mental Health America 2009 Media Awards Recognize Excellence In Mental Health Journalism

Mental Health America tomorrow will honor journalists, producers and writers for outstanding coverage of mental health issues at a Media Awards luncheon being held during its Centennial Conference in Washington, D.C. In addition to awards in print and broadcast categories, Mental Health America will present a special award, The Bell Award for Significant Contributions to Mental Health Journalism, to Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Times. Lopez is the author of "The Soloist," which inspired the film of the same name. He won a Mental Health America Media Award in 2006 for a series of columns that first chronicled the life and struggles of "The Soloist," Nathaniel Anthony Ayers. "The Media Awards bring together the very best mental health stories in print and broadcast media during 2008," said David L. Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America "Informative and thought-provoking journalism is a powerful form of education and we applaud these journalists for helping shape public understanding of these critical issues." Mental Health America will present 2009 Media Awards in the following categories: Advocacy Jane Howard, Wisconsin United for Mental Health, "Open Doors, Open Minds: A Guide for Reporting" Local Television Robert L. Arnold and John Barone, KPRC (Houston, TX), ""Mental Health Crisis" National Radio Alix Spiegel, NPR, "Two Families Grapple with Sons" Gender Preferences" Local Radio Bryan Thompson, Kansas Public Radio, "Greensburg"s Long Road to Recovery" National Television Larkin McPhee, PBS, "Depression: Out of the Shadows" Documentary Ben Selkow, Sundance Channel/Indie Pix Films, "A Summer in the Cage" Series Sharon Salyer and Alejandro Dominguez, The Herald (Everett, Washington), "Alone Among Us" Newspapers with a Circulation Below 100,000 James Carlson, Topeka Capital-Journal, "The Bob Owen Story" Newspapers with a Circulation Above 100,000 Elizabeth Bernstein and Nathan Koppel, The Wall Street Journal, "A Death in the Family" Amy Upshaw, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "The Long Way Home" National Magazines Mary Carmichael, Newsweek, Growing Up Bipolar" Coverage of Mental Health Research Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Science, "Shell Shock Revisited" Local/Regional Magazines Ray Ring, High Country News, "My Crazy Brother" Chandra R. Thomas, Atlanta, "Suicide Mission" A volunteer judging panel of media professionals selected the winning entries for their educational value, outstanding quality, comprehensiveness and creativity in addressing timely issues in mental health. Members of this year"s panel included Sarah Baldauf of U.S. News & World Repor; David Brown, The Washington Post; Kelly Kennedy, Times News Service; Anita Manning, Freelance; and Kim Sedmak, AARP TV. Get Ready for the 2010 Media Awards! The Mental Health America 2010 Media Awards competition will honor reporting and portrayals of mental health issues in news and features stories, on national, state local and student levels and in print, online and broadcast media. Mental Health America will distribute nomination guides in early 2009. To sign up for our mailing list, please email mediaawards@mentalhealthamerica.net. Celebrating 100 years of mental health education and advocacy, Mental Health America is the country"s leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With our more than 300 affiliates nationwide, we represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation-every day and in times of crisis. In 2009, we are marking a century of achievement with a year-long Centennial Observance: "Celebrating the Legacy. Forging the Future." Mental Health America


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